The state’s Board of Water and Natural Resources has signed off on nearly 49 million dollars in loans and grants to upgrade drinking water and wastewater systems statewide. The announcement came Wednesday from the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Most of the funding — about 37 million dollars — comes in the form of state loans, including more than 400 thousand dollars in principal forgiveness. Another 7.6 million in federal grants is being directed to small or disadvantaged communities dealing with emerging contaminants, and 4.3 million comes from American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Several major projects are getting a boost. Rapid City will receive 14.5 million dollars to improve wells and build two new ones. Sioux Falls is approved for 17.7 million dollars to begin Phase One of a Southeast Basin sewer project, along with a 7.6-million-dollar federal grant to add a third connection to the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System. Mitchell will use nearly 4 million dollars to upgrade sanitary and storm sewers on North Ohlman Street. And Toronto is receiving 770 thousand dollars, including principal forgiveness, to relocate water mains for upcoming highway work.
Several rural water systems — including BDM, Clay, Mid-Dakota, South Lincoln, and Shared Resources — are also getting ARPA funding for infrastructure upgrades.
The board approved the funding during its meeting in Pierre. These programs are supported through a combination of state resources and federal EPA dollars.
